Protective undergarment

ABSTRACT

A protective undergarment including an integrally formed undergarment body formed of a liquid impermeable material, and an absorptive pad associated with the integrally formed undergarment body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective undergarments generally aswell as to methods for manufacture thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of protective undergarments are known in the patentliterature. The following patents and patent applications and thereferences cited therein are believed to represent the state of the art:U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,419; PCT Published Patent Application WO 96/36248and European Patent 327,823.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a protective undergarment whichis generally lighter and more comfortable than conventional protectiveundergarments and which can be manufactured in large quantities atrelatively low cost.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a protective undergarment including an integrallyformed undergarment body formed of a liquid impermeable material, and anabsorptive pad associated with the integrally formed undergarment body.

Preferably, the undergarment body includes a first portion which isformed with multiple perforations to permit passage of perspirationtherethrough, and a second portion which is substantially notperforated, so as to prevent passage of body fluids therethrough.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention theabsorptive pad is associated with the undergarment body at the secondportion.

Preferably, the second portion extends beyond the absorptive pad.

There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention a protective undergarment comprising anintegrally formed undergarment body formed of a liquid impermeablematerial, the undergarment body including a first portion which isformed with multiple perforations to permit passage of perspirationtherethrough, and a second portion which is substantially notperforated, so as to prevent passage of body fluids therethrough.

Preferably, the liquid impermeable material is latex.

Alternatively, the liquid impermeable material is silicone rubber.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theundergarment body has a thickness of approximately 10 microns.

Preferably, the protective garment also comprises an absorbent pad fixedto the undergarment body.

The protective undergarment may be a brassiere, underpants or any othersuitable garment.

The protective undergarment may have fibers adhered to at least onesurface of the undergarment body.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, theabsorbent pad includes a portion extending downward from the crotchalong the thigh.

There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention a method of manufacture of protectiveundergarments comprising the steps of forming an undergarment body of aliquid impermeable material, and forming multiple perforations on afirst portion of the undergarment body to permit passage of perspirationtherethrough.

Preferably, the step of associating an absorbent pad with a secondportion of the undergarment body.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention a method of manufacture of protective undergarmentscomprising the steps of forming an undergarment body of a liquidimpermeable material, and fixedly associating an absorbent pad with theundergarment body.

Preferably, the associating step comprising forming the undergarmentbody over a portion of the pad.

Preferably, the method also includes the step of forming theundergarment body over an absorbent pad, so as to fix the pad to theundergarment body.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the method includes the step of adhering cotton fibers to atleast one surface of the undergarment body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H and 1I are illustrations of amethod for producing protective undergarments in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of protective undergarments producedgenerally by the method of FIGS. 1A–1F in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H and 1I aresimplified illustrations of a method for producing protectiveundergarments in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The invention is described hereinbelow with reference toFIGS. 1A–1I, with specific reference to underpants, it being appreciatedthat the invention applies equally to any other suitable undergarment.

As seen in FIG. 1A, a three dimensional garment form 10 is provided onwhich an array 12 of protrusions 14, such as needles, is formed in thegeneral shape of underpants to be formed. The crotch area 16 of theunderpants is preferably not formed with protrusions 14. The remainderof the form 10 is preferably coated with a non-adhesion substance, suchas TEFLON R.

As shown in FIG. 1B, garment form 10 is preferably dipped in a liquid18, such as latex or silicone, which when allowed to dry, forms astretchable, light weight garment 18 over array 12 and crotch area 16.It may be appreciated that the provision of protrusions 14 causes thegarment 18 to be perforated except at crotch area 16. Thus the garment18 is “breathable” except at the crotch area 16, where it is liquidimpermeable.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, asillustrated in FIG. 1C, an absorptive pad 20 is associated with thelight weight garment 18 at the crotch area 16. It may be associated bythe use of an adhesive, but is preferably attached to the remainder ofgarment 18 by virtue of the fact that the liquid is allowed to dry onthe form 10 in engagement with the absorptive pad 20.

Prior to removal of the garment 18 from the form 10, the exteriorsurface of the garment on the form 10, which will eventually be turnedinside-out to form the interior surface, is preferably sprayed withadhesive 22, as shown in FIG. 1D and thereafter with cotton fibers 24 orany other suitable material, as indicated in FIG. 1E, thereby to providea comfortable and non-stick skin engaging surface. Preferably pad 20 iscovered during the steps of FIGS. 1D and 1E with a cover 26, whichextends somewhat beyond the pad, so as to prevent liquid migration fromthe pad to the cotton fibers.

The resulting garment 30 may then be removed from the form 10, as seenin FIG. 1F and turned inside out. The outer surface of garment 30 may becoated or otherwise covered with cotton fiber or any other suitablematerial and finished in an appropriate manner.

The completed garment 40, as seen in FIG. 1G, is preferably extremelylight weight, low cost, stretchable, underpants, which is perforatedgenerally except at the crotch area and which is preferably integrallyformed with an internal absorptive pad at the crotch area. The garmentis preferably formed of an elastic material, such as latex or siliconeand has a thickness of less than 10 microns. In accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention, as seen in FIG. 1H, atear region 42 may be incorporated in the garment, such as at a sidethereof. This enables ease of removal of the garment, by tearing it atregion 42. Once removed the torn, worn garment may be disposed of, asillustrated in FIG. 1I.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the garment may be underpants 50, abrassiere 60, or any other suitable garment. It is noted that the pad 62of the underpants 50 may have a portion which extends downwardly alongthe wearer's legs.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited by what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present inventionincludes variations and modifications of the various features describedin the specification and shown in the drawings which may occur to aperson of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoingdescription and which are not in the prior art.

1. Protective garment comprising: an integrally formed garment body of aliquid impermeable material having an inner surface with a first portionand a second portion; an absorptive device associated with the secondportion of the inner surface of the integrally formed garment body; andloose fibres directly affixed to at least a substantial part of thefirst portion of the inner surface of the integrally formed garment bodyand proximate to the absorptive device.
 2. A protective garmentaccording to claim 1, wherein the fibres are affixed to the innersurface of the integrally formed garment body except for a section ofthe garment body associated with the absorptive device.
 3. A protectivegarment according to claim 1, wherein said first portion is formed withmultiple perforations to permit passage of perspiration therethrough. 4.A protective garment according to claim 3, wherein said second portionis not substantially perforated, so as to prevent passage of body fluidstherethrough.
 5. A protective garment according to claim 1, wherein theintegrally formed garment body has an outer surface, and furthercomprising loose fibres directly affixed to at least a portion of theouter surface of the integrally formed garment body.
 6. A protectivegarment according to claim 1, wherein the liquid impermeable material isrubber.
 7. A protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the fibresare cotton.
 8. A protective garment according to claim 1, wherein thesecond portion extends beyond said absorptive device.
 9. A protectivegarment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is a body-tightseamless garment.
 10. A protective garment according to claim 2, whereinthe garment is a body-tight seamless garment.
 11. A protective garmentaccording to claim 1, wherein said garment is underpants.
 12. Aprotective garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment isbrassiere.
 13. A method of manufacture of a protective garmentcomprising the steps of: forming an garment body of a liquid impermeablematerial, the garment body having an inner surface with a first portionand a second portion; associating an absorptive device with the secondportion of the inner surface of the garment body; and affixing loosefibres directly to at least a substantial part of the first portion ofthe inner surface of the garment body and proximally to the absorptivedevice.
 14. A method of manufacture of a protective garment according toclaim 13, wherein the associating of the absorptive device with thesecond portion includes contacting the absorptive device while theliquid impermeable material is drying.
 15. A method of manufacture of aprotective garment according to claim 13, wherein the fibres are cotton.16. A method of manufacture of a protective garment according to claim13, wherein the affixing of fibres includes spraying an adhesive to thepart of the first portion and spraying fibres to the part of the firstportion.
 17. A method of manufacture of a protective garment accordingto claim 13, wherein the affixing of fibres comprises affixed fibres tothe inner surface of the garment body except for a section of thegarment body associated with the absorptive device.
 18. A method ofmanufacture of a protective garment according to claim 13, wherein thegarment body has an outer surface, and further comprising affixingfibres directly to a part of the outer surface of the garment body. 19.A protective garment comprising: an integrally formed garment body of anelastic liquid impermeable material having an inner surface with a firstportion and a second portion; an absorptive device associated with thesecond portion of the inner surface of the integrally formed garmentbody; and loose fibres directly affixed to at least a substantial partof the first portion of the inner surface of the integrally formedgarment body and proximate to the absorptive device.
 20. A protectivegarment according to claim 19, wherein the fibres are affixed to theinner surface of the integrally formed garment body except for a sectionof the garment body associated with the absorptive device.
 21. Aprotective garment according to claim 19, wherein said first portion isformed with multiple perforations to permit passage of perspirationtherethrough.
 22. A protective garment according to claim 21, whereinsaid second portion is not substantially perforated, so as to preventpassage of body fluids therethrough.
 23. A protective garment accordingto claim 19, wherein the integrally formed garment body has an outersurface, and further comprising fibres directly affixed to at least aportion of the outer surface of the integrally formed garment body. 24.A protective garment according to claim 19, wherein the liquidimpermeable material is rubber.
 25. A protective garment according toclaim 19, wherein the fibres are cotton.
 26. A protective garmentaccording to claim 19, wherein the second portion extends beyond saidabsorptive device.
 27. A protective garment according to claim 19,wherein the garment is a body-tight seamless garment.
 28. A protectivegarment according to claim 20, wherein the garment is a body-tightseamless garment.
 29. A method of manufacture of a protective garmentcomprising the steps of: forming an integral garment body of an elasticliquid impermeable material, the integral garment body having an innersurface with a first portion and a second portion; an absorptive deviceassociated with the second portion of the inner surface of theintegrally formed garment body; and affixing loose fibres directly to atleast a substantial part of the first portion and proximally to theabsorptive device.
 30. A method of manufacture of a protective garmentaccording to claim 29, wherein the associating of the absorptive devicewith the second portion includes contacting the absorptive device whilethe liquid impermeable material is drying.
 31. A method of manufactureof a protective garment according to claim 29, wherein the fibres arecotton.
 32. A method of manufacture of a protective garment according toclaim 29, wherein the affixing of fibres includes spraying an adhesiveto the part of the first portion and spraying fibres to the part of thefirst portion.
 33. A method of manufacture of a protective garmentaccording to claim 29, wherein the affixing of fibres comprises affixedfibres to the inner surface of the garment body except for a section ofthe garment body associated with the absorptive device.
 34. A method ofmanufacture of a protective garment according to claim 29, wherein thegarment body has an outer surface, and further comprising affixingfibres directly to a part of the outer surface of the garment body. 35.Protective garment comprising: an integrally formed garment body of aliquid impermeable material having an inner surface, the body formedwith multiple perforations to permit perspiration therethrough; andloose fibres directly affixed to at least a substantial portion of theinner surface of the integrally formed garment body.
 36. A protectivegarment according to claim 35 wherein the inner surface has a firstportion and a second portion.
 37. A protective garment according toclaim 35, further comprising an absorptive device associated with thesecond portion of the inner surface of the integrally formed garmentbody.
 38. A protective garment according to claim 37, wherein the fibresthat are affixed to the first portion of the inner surface of theintegrally formed garment body are proximate to the portion of thegarment body associated with the absorptive device.
 39. A protectivegarment according to claim 37 wherein said second portion is notsubstantially perforated, so as to prevent passage of body fluidstherethrough.
 40. A protective garment according to claim 35, whereinthe integrally formed garment body has an outer surface, and furthercomprising fibres directly affixed to at least a portion of the outersurface of the integrally formed garment body.
 41. A protective garmentaccording to claim 35, wherein the liquid impermeable material isrubber.
 42. A protective garment according to claim 35, wherein thefibres are cotton.
 43. A protective garment according to claim 37,wherein the second portion extends beyond said absorptive device.
 44. Aprotective garment according to claim 35, wherein the garment is abody-tight seamless garment.
 45. A protective garment according to claim37, wherein the garment is a body-tight seamless garment.
 46. Aprotective garment according to claim 35, wherein said garment isunderpants.
 47. A protective garment according to claim 35, wherein saidgarment is brassiere.